Mary Herbert - Lightning's Daughter

“There are some things,” she said, repeating Valorian’s words, “best left alone by man.”

News of the council’s decision spread through the camps even before the meeting was over. Emotions were widely mixed throughout the clans, but no one was greatly surprised. The clanspeople were beginning to understand that magic was part of their heritage, a part they could no longer deny.

Three days later, on a gloriously clear, warm summer evening, Lord Athlone of Clan Khulinin married Lady Gabria of Clan Corin in a ceremony witnessed by all eleven clans. The Khulinin Priestess of Amara, clad in flowing green robes, performed the rites of marriage and blessed the couple with prayers of harmony and fertility.

Gabria wore the red dress Khan’di had given her and a golden veil from Athlone’s mother—the red to represent the clan she was leaving and the gold to symbolize the clan she was finally officially joining. Lord Athlone was resplendent in his finest clothes and his golden torque. Piers and Tam were there to represent Gabria’s family, and Sayyed stood as Athlone’s witness.

When the ceremony was over, Athlone removed Gabria’s veil and tied it around his waist like a sash. He took his new bride into his arms and sealed their happiness with a long and very thorough kiss.

The three Hunnuli beside them lifted their heads to the evening star and whinnied their joy over the vast Ramtharin Plains.

Corin (massacred) - Dathlar - Red

Khulinin – Athlone - Gold

Geldring - Wortan - Green

Wylfling - Hildor - Brown

Dangari - Koshyn - Indigo

Shahedron - Malech - Black

Reidhar - Caurus - Yellow

Amnok - Faltor - Gray

Murjik - Jol - Purple

Bahedin - Ryne - Orange

Jehanan - Sha Umar - Maroon

Ferganan - Bael - Light Blue

Hearthguard:The chieftain’s personal bodyguard. These men are the elite warriors of the clan and are honored with the position for their bravery, skill, and loyalty.

Herd-master:The man responsible for the health, breeding, and well-being of the horse herds.

Holdings:Land granted to a clan for its use while in winter camp.

Outriders:Those werod riders who guard the herds and the camp or act as scouts.

Treld:A clan’s permanent winter camp.

Weir-geld:Recompense paid to the family of a murdered person in the form of gold or livestock, or by death in a personal duel.

Werod:The fighting body of a clan. Although all men are required to learn the rudiments of fighting, only those who pass certain tests make up the werod.

Wer-tain:The commander of the werod. These men are second only to the chieftain in authority.